RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

John,
Your bonnet patch and manifolds look good.
The patch made me think of hand hole cover someone had made on my 15 27, when I first got it I thought I must get a proper cover and put it right. But the more I look at it I think I will leave It as it is.
The differences I have noticed so far between the 15 27 and 20-30 are the 15-27 has the internal oil pump (mine has two for some reason) and smaller suction screen same as Cub jr, K and OK, block drain tap in differnt place and the 20 30 has small indentation in block below carb.
(Correction the Cub jr has an internal suction screen)

RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

Another difference with the 15-27 and 20-30 is the wishbone, the 20 30 is the one with two bolts you can also see the external oil pump.
There are so many changes on the 20-30 I should start a new thread or put this imformation on the Wallis thread,
I need some warmer weather to take better pictures, it was -30F (-34C) here this morning.

RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

There's been quite a lot of chat about the M-H 12-20 tractor on the 12-20 thread. Here is an image if it from the Racine tractor plant. This is the Wallis version. The M-H version was the same except for the logos. This one strangely lacks its vertical exhaust pipe and I think maybe has an early pulley type. My M-H 12-20 has a deep dished pulley centre. Can anyone clarify?

I drove my grandfather's as a child. They are a delight and easy to drive. The external gate for the gearbox makes you really think you are part of the mechanics of the tractor. They were rated as much more fuel efficient than the Fordson's of the day and were certainly generally much easier to start.

RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

The last of my tractor shots tonight. This was in the file of Racine tractor photos. It's a rather nice one of a Wallis 20-30 in action with a binder which I hope was aMassey. It is unusual to see a shot of a Wallis 20-30 with the angle iron strakes on the rear wheels but they were an option to the standard lugs. The tractor lacks a radiator screen and can any one say what that round bar is for on the front of the tractor.

Also what crop is it cutting? Could it be alfalfa for seed?

Is he a farmer or contractor? Anyway seems to be the ED ranch in Salina OKLA?

RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

Nice picture John, I think this is the fore runner of Harry Fergusons Idea. Just put another pipe inside this existing pipe on both sides with chains dangling down and it will scare up the grouse or rabbits so they get out of the way and don't get their legs cut off in the binder.

The other thought, it looks like a picture of a camera on the side of the gas tank. Possibly the camera man had some sort of a hook up to mount a 16 mm camera on the front of the tractor for doing promotional live shots of the binder in action.

Now all we have to do is find some of this footage and we will be in business.

It could also be for pushing the compitition out of the way so the Wallis can do it's thing without being slowed down...

RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

I found another shot relevant to the Racine tractor plant. It's probably older than most of us!

It shows the 1929 Manager's conference held on September 18-21st and most of the men are named. As you will see there are a lot of "local boys" from WI so maybe there are relatives in MCAor MCA members who know the families? The search is on!!!!!

RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

Here'sanother period personnel shot. This time it's of Canadian sales staff who had come to study the Wallis tractor at the newly acquired Racine factory - previously JI Case Plow Works - where the Wallis line of tractors had been made since 1912.

They would have been sent to study the Wallis 20-30 tractor of the day and which would subsequently also be badged the Massey-Harris 20-30. The only difference between the two tractors as far as I am aware would be the badging including the casting on the grill, and a different tool box lid but maybe Malcolm, Joe and Tom can advise further.

In the staff list I see there are just a few from the USA. Now does anyone know of the families of any of these people who might have some old tales to relate from their ancestors?

The shot is from the Massey-Harris news of December 15th 1928 so the event would have been soon after the MH takeover of the Wallis line.

RE:M-H Tractors/Racine

What a wonderful amount of Racine and Massey history flooding out here in these recent threads, many photographs we have never seen before and so much for everyones taste or interest, even down to employees, signs, water towers and general history of the Company.

One thing I have been wanting to post in the last two weeks when this thread was at the point of discussing the Robin manifold conversions for the Wallis and M-H 20-30's and M-H 25's, and the reference to the large hole cut in the hoods which John and Graham have discussed keeping that history and covering with plates when put back to original style manifolds.

Has anyone seen the Robin elbow which fits to the Wallis manifold and takes the pipe vertical at the side of the hood?
WHen I bought my M-H 20-30 it had this Robin conversion and luckily had not had a large hole cut in the hood, so with one of Ervin's new diverter valves, kingston carburetor and vaporisor I soon had it back to original.
The cast elbow is very heavy and so far I have not come across another.